Today I bring you my beef koftas in spicy tomato sauce. It’s a recipe I make multiple times a month as we love it so much. I usually alternate between beef and lamb depending on what I can get my hands on. I actually posted this on my Instagram stories and it was a hit, so I saved it on my highlights. If you wish to watch a step by step guide of this, head over to my Instagram and just click on “beef koftes” in the highlights.
It is a very simple recipe, rich in flavour and comforting. We tend to have it with some simple herbed flatbreads, however it is also great with crusty breast such as my one hour sunflower bread or even with some plain rice!
I start this recipe on the stovetop and finish it off in the oven. The stovetop part is really just to assemble the sauce and make sure my meat is browned. I brown the meat so as to lock in the moisture and flavour. The spices I use perfectly compliment the meat and tomato combination, and the cayenne pepper gives it a warm kick. For the koftas I like to make sure my onion and ginger are chopped very finely, so I use my russel hobbs food chopper, it just makes the whole process much easier.
I tend to use frozen spinach and peppers. This is just because I do buy them in bulk, however you can use fresh ones. When adding them to the sauce, just stir before removing form the heat rather than letting them melt.
Beef Koftas in Spicy Tomato
Ingredients
Koftas
- 600 g Minced Beef
- 1/2 Onion
- 2 Garlic Cloves
- 1 Small Piece of Ginger
- 1/4 cup Fresh Coriander
- 1 tbsp Paprika
- 1/2 Cumin
- 1 tsp Chilli Flakes
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Spicy Sauce
- 1/2 Onion
- 2 Garlic Cloves
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Cumin
- 2 Tins of Chopped Tomatoes
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 1 Crushed up beef stock cube
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1-2 tbsp Chilli Flakes
- 1/2 cup Red and yellow peppers
- 2 Cubes of frozen spinach or 1 cup of fresh spinach
Garnish
- 1 cup Fresh coriander
- 2 Red Chillies
Instructions
Koftas
- Finely chop the garlic, onion, ginger and coriander
- Combine the dry herbs and spices with the meat and the chopped garlic, onion, ginger and coriander
- Mix well, cover with cling film and set aside
Spicy Sauce
- Finely chop the garlic and onion
- Heat up about the olive oil and gently fry the garlic and onion
- Add the paprika and cumin and cook for about 30 seconds
- Add the tomatoes, bay leaf, stock cube, cayenne pepper and chilli flakes and stir
- Add the peppers and spinach, season with salt and cook just until the frozen spinach has melted (if using fresh spinach just add it in and stir before taking off the heat)
- Pour the sauce in a baking dish and set aside
- Shape the meat into palm sized balls and gently brown it on the stove using some olive oil
- Add the meat to the sauce and, using a wooden spoon, make sure each ball is covered by the sauce
- Bake for 20-25 minutes at 200degrees or until the meat starts to look browner on the top and the sauce has thickened
- Garnish with fresh coriander and red chillies and serve with some flatbreads or rice
This dish looks delicious and the Koftas are surely tasty. Love the Spicy Tomato sauce too.
Thank you Veena. It really is so tasty
I love all the flavors in this and I love that you start on the stove top and finish in the oven – makes them perfectly browned and yummy!
Definitely! It’s such an important step
Loved the flavours in this recipe. We loved it and can’t wait to make it again! YUM
Thanks!
Both koftas and the sauce were so beautifully spiced, we couldn’t get enough! Will be making it again soon.
Thank you x
What a tasty dish. I did substitute a few ingredients, but turned out well.
I’m glad you like it. That’s the beauty of it, it’s very adaptable
Really tasty! My meatballs fell apart a bit so next time I’d add some breadcrumbs or maybe an egg to the mix to hold it together. Paired perfectly with a fattoush salad 🙂
We love this recipe….. I have made it a few times and it’s always a winner with family and friends!
I love the heart and the tangy tomatoes and matches well with the coconut chicken and butternut squash curry I often make!! Thanks for this great recipe!